Coaster-wagon steering gear



April 10, 1928.

1,665,729 A. c. CARLSON COASTER WAGON STEERING GEAR Filed Aug. 2l, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1o, 192s. 1,665,729

A. C. CARLSON COASTER WAGON STEERING GEAR Filed Aug. 21. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

1,665,729 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTIE o. CARLSON, on vaLIEEAIsO, INDIANA, ,assIGNOn BY iviEsNE AssIGNMENTs, To THE NORTHERN TRUST COMPANY AND HAROLD II. ROOKWELI. As TRUSTEES.

COASTER-WAGON STEERING GEAR.

Application filed August 21, 1924. Serial No. 733,352.

My invention relates to improvements in coaster wagon steering gear and it more especially consists ot the features hereinafter pointed out in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a coaster wagon in which the body has a low center of gravity; that admits of the steering gear .being turned under the body more than 180 degrees; that secures the steering gear to the body near the exti'eiiie ends ot the king bolt which prevents wear at the bottom of the Lfront cross member of the body where the king bolt projects, that utilizes a steering handle which extends rearwardly over the body approximately on a horizontal plane; that coordinates a bearing .surface on the steering handle with the center of the king pin; that combines the several parts constitutingl the steering gear and axle suspension in such a way that they are readily assembled though shipped in a knock-down condition; that forms a limit stop for the handle to prevent its touching the ground; that provides an axle supporting member which may be equally used on both the front and rear axles; and that provides an axle construction ivhich is equally adapted ttor either front or rear axles.

lith these and other ends in view, I illustrate inthe accompanying drawing such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying teatures without limiting myselt' to the specific details shown thereon and described herein.

Figure 1 is a side elevation ot the 'lront end or steering portion of a coaster wagon.

Fig. 9. is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan View showing the extent ot movement of the steering gear.

Fig. Li is a front elevation of Fig. l.

Fig. is an elevation ot the front axle support used in duplicate on the rear axle.

Fig. (S is a side elevation of the rear axle spring attached to a duplicate oit the At'ront axle support.

Fig. T is a perspective view oil? a sliding steering handle.

Fig. 8 is a cross section of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the steering handle pivot plate.

Fig. 10 is a central cross section of Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a detached section of the steering traine and steering plate holding means.

ot application Serial Number 673,963 tiled November l0, 1923.

In practically carrying out my invention I may use any desired expedient in the details of construction that will lend themselves to meet the exigencies of actual practice within the limits ot the broadestvteatures of the invention.

The support :tor the coaster wagon is ot' course the front and rear axles 1 which may be duplicates oi' each other andtheir attached wheels 2. The body is composed of side rails et joined by a 'front cross member 5 and a rear cross member (not shown). The side rails Ll are held in rigid contact with the cross members by tie rods 1G. Between tlie side rails Ll, floor boards 23 are placed with their ends resting in grooves 17 and the special features ot the body construction are made the subject matter of the above referred to application. The body is connected to the axles at the liront end through the medium of the cross member 5 and the metallic under structure and at the rear end tlirongli the medium of curved springs 3 attached directly to the side rails by means of bolts 33. The toes at the lower ends ot' springs 3 are attached to the axle support 18 by means of rivets 20. This axle support has ears 2l through 'which the axle passes. A similar axle support 18 serves for both iront and rear axles. i

The iti-ont cross member 5 is provided with a vertical hole for the king pin 6. VThis king pin at its upper end may have a knob 24 formed integrally therewith or separately therefrom. Below the king bolt knob Q4 the upper horizontal portion 10 of the steering -traine 9 is located having a hole formed at its rear end through which the king bolt G passes. A specially formed washer plate 35 is placed between the wooden cross member 5 and the metal strap 10 to prevent the cross member 5 being worn as the member l0 moves around the king pin when the direction of' movement of the coaster wagon is changed. The king pin 6 passes through the member 5 in a driving lit so as to be lirinly held in the member 5. Below this member the king pin passes through the flat portion 4t2 of the floor brace lplate la secured to the floor rails connected to a front and a rear end, ioor boards supported by the ends, a front wheel suspension pivotally connected with the front end of the body, a steering frame rigid with the same, and a ti'i' th wheel bearing with which said suspension means is pivotally connected, said bearing being in the form ot a plate extending rearwardly and connected with the floor boards ot the body whereby to transmit rearward thrusts to the body, and a king pin passing through the front end of the body and the plate.

d A coaster wagon comprising a body in the form of a rigid substantially rectangular frame inciuding a pair of narrow side rails and a Jfront end piece holding the rails spaced apart projecting below the side rails, front wheel suspension means pivotally mounted at the lower edge ot said front piece, and a steering trame pivotally connected to said front end piece and detachably connected to said suspension means.

5. A coaster wagon comprising` a body having a front end piece of substantial width, trent wheel suspension means in the form of a truss having ears to form endwise thrust bearings tor the wheels, an axle in such ears, a king pin passing through said front end piece and said truss, a steering frame pivotally connected to said king pin and connected to the lront wheel suspension means, and a plate ot' substantial width pro-V viding a bearing or ti'fth wheel between said Front piece and the truss member.

C. In coaster wagons, a substantially rectangular body comprising a front end piece, a suspension means, a king pin of substantial length projcctflig above and below the end piece, a U-shaped steering trame pivotally connected to opposite ends ot the king pin and connected with the suspension means, said steering Ytrame being adapted to clear the t'ront corners ot the body, and a handle pivotally connectedL to said steering frame.

T. In coaster wagons, a body having a trent and cross member, front wheel suspension means pivotally supporting the'iront end ot the body, a steering gear comprising a one piece U-shaped vertically positioned steering trame rigid with said suspension, and means for pivotally' connecting the steering frame to the front end cross member of the body whereby the steering frame is adapted to swing through an arc of not less than ninety degrees relative to the center of the body.

8. In coaster wagons, a body, front wheel suspension means comprising a kingl pin ot substantial length mounted in the body and projecting above and below the body, a U- shaped steering 'trame pivotally connected to opposite ends of the king pin and rigidly connected with said suspension means, a handle pivotally connected to said steering ame, and stop means for limiting the 'forward and rearward swinging movements of the handle.

9. In coaster wagons, a one-piece Ushaped steering trame having an upper portion, a forward portion, and a lower portion, and a handle pivotally mounted on said steering frame near the junction of said upper and forward portions, the forward end of the handle being adapted to engage the said front portion of the steering trame to support the handle in an inclined position when ext-ending forwardly and downwardly trom the body. f

l0. In coaster wagons, a body, a king pin secured to the body, a. steering frame including a front portion, upper and. lower por tions, the latter being pivoted on the king pin, a steering handle, a projection from the iandle pivoted to the front portion of the steering trame, and a stop constituting the pivoted end ot. the handle adapted in the `torward movement of the handle to engage the front portion of the steering frame and in its rearward movement to engage the king pin to limitthe forward and rearward swinging movements ot the handle.

l1. In coaster wagons, a front wheel axle suspension comprising an arched truss member, a tie bar having wheel positioning ears in which the axle is supported, means tor connecting the ends of said member to the tie bar, a steering trame, and means for rigidly connecting said 'trame to said member.

12. In coaster wagons, a body, front wheel suspension means comprising an upper truss member, a tie bar having wheel positioning ears and connecting the ends of the truss member, and a steering gear comprising a steering frame rigidly connected to said member and pivotally connected to the body.

13. In coaster wagons, front wheel suspension means including an arch truss member, a tie bar having wheel positioning ears and connecting the ends of the truss member, said member, and tie bar being apertured to provide spaced bearings for a king pin, and a steering trame connected to said member and pivotally connected to the body.

14. In coaster wagons, a body, a steering gear therefor, a king pin passing through the body and the steering gear and projecting above the body, a steering handle pivoted -to the steering gear for vertical movement,

a channeled self positioning plate on the handle adapted to engage tho projecting end of the king pin to hold the steering handle in position on the king pin against any disengaging horizontal movement while leaving the steering handle tree to be moved vertically away trom the king pin.

15. In coaster wagons, a body having a front end, a king pin passing through the body and projecting above the same, a steering member conected to the king pinabove and below the from. end' ofthe body, a steering handle pivotally connected to 'elle steer-` ing Vmember, and` mesme for holding the steering' handleY in enga gement with: the king pin While free to be moved vertically away from the king pine 16. Iny coaster' wagons, a body having; a; transverse 'front end, a steering` gear coop` @rating with the front @ml` of thel boclly a. king pin positionedI onl the front end, meansA for pivoting the seering gear' to the king' pin above :mel below the front end7 :n Steern magma 

